Well pump



Oct;o 28, A1941.

D.A E. HUMPHREY WELL PUMP Filed Aug. a, 1940 oct, 28, 1941. j D, E; HUMPHREY 2,260,669

' WELL PUMP I Filed Aug. 8, 1940 2 sheets-sneet 2 Patented Oct. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELL PUMP v Dee E. Humphrey, Dallas, Tex. l Application August y8, 1940, ASerial No. 351,839

claims. (o1. '10s-15s) l This invention relates to well pumps and more particularly to pumps for deep oiland artesian wells.

-The principal object of the invention is to dispense with heavy' and expensive equipment usually employed for pumping wells, including sucker rods, surface equipment such as pumping units, jacks and powers and replace such equipment with a simple, inexpensive and durable reciprocating element, suspended on the tubing` string 'at the bottom of the hole.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for rotating the tubing string as well as means for translating such movement into reciprocating movement for so actuating the working barrel, thereby to elevate liquid through the tubing in successive stages, aided by a series of relatively spaced and.- conventional valves.

Another object of the invention is toyprovide means by which any differential speed vratio may be obtained between the rotatable speed of the tubing and the reciprocable speed of the working barrel. For example, rotation of the tubing at the rate of 60 R. P. M3. will cause the working barrel to travel approximately-200- inches in eiective work and which ratio may be changed by varying several yfactors in the assembly.

The invention has further advantages in that it produces acontinuous swabbing effect on the well; minimizes accumulation of basic sediment, paraiun deposits, emulsion, sand and the like at the bottom of the hole, due to the agitation set up at this point by the action ofthe working barrel.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention has particular reference to certain salient features of construction and arrangement of parts to become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accom; panying drawings, wherein: l f

Figure 1 is a view of the invention in vertical section showing one form of power transmission in the well and the means for converting rotary into reciprocatingmovement for actuating the working barrel. 4

'Figure 2 is a continuation of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an expanded viewof the lowest section of tubing, showing double helix grooves in its exterior surface.

Figure 4 is a transverse section, taken on line 4 4 on Figure 1.

Figure 5 is another form of the invention from which the power transmission in the well has been deleted, resulting in a lixed speed ratio between the tubing and working barrel.

Figure 6 is a continuation of Figure 5. f

Figure'l is a transverse section, reduced, on line 1-'I"on Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a transverse section, reduced, onv line '8 8 on Figure 5,and

' Figure 9 is al reduced transverse section on line.9-9 on Figure 5. y

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawings, the reference numeral I denotes a well casing, on which is suitably mount-- edza driving head 2, for rotating a'string of upset tubing 3, suspended within the casing I.

The driving'head 2 is shown in the drawings tocontain' a conventional worm and gear assembly for transmitting rotary movement to the tubing string but in actual practice, a speed reduction mechanism, as set forth in applicants U. S. yLetters Patent No. 2,206,958, issued July 9, 1940, will provide an effective drive for this purpose as well asr affording a medium, not unlike that illustrated in Figure l, for transmitting power to and reducing the speed of the lowermost section 4 of tubing in the string and which section will be described presently.

The gearing in the head 2 as shownconsists ofy aworm gear 5, mounted on bearings 6, upon a boss r`I. The squared-end 8 of the upper section of tubingv extends through a central opening in gear 5 'and through a square opening in a block 9, which latter, in turn, rests in' a square recess in the gear 5. This arrangement enables gear 5 to rotate the tubingstring 3. To drive the gear 5, -a worm I0 is mounted on shaft II to mesh with the teeth of gear 5 and a V-belt pulley I2 is mountedalso on shaft II and operated by a motor to rotate shaft I I. Suitable packing I3 surrounds thetubing 3 in the head 2 and is held in place by means of a thrust collar I4. Suspended bythe tubing string 3 is a housing I5.. This housingis provided with an internal shoulderor ledge I6 which serves as a lower race foiball bearings I'I.

member rI8 has an internally geared flange I9.fand is fixed,.by means of keys 20, to thetubing Sito rotate therewith.` The teeth of the gear of iiange I9 enmesh a segment of the teeth of external .gear 2|, the gears being eccentrically related, as set forth in the above identied patent. Both gears rest upon the bearings I1. It vis to be noted that the lowermost tubing section 4 is joined to and depends from external 'gear' 2|v and consequently rotates at whatever speed the gear 2I is designed to rotate, which is usually at a faster rate than that of the tubing 3.

The housing I5 is held against roation by ing string is converted into reciprocation of 3 l the working barrel is based upon the well known mechanical movement involving a rod having al pair of helical grooves, intercrossing throughout the length of the rod and merging at their ends to form an endless reversing` groove for a conforming protuberance carried by another member embracing the rod. In the present usage, however, the rod takes the form of the hollow tubing section 4, in the exterior wall surface of which is provided the continuous groove 21. Figure 3 shows the form of the groove when spread out on a flat plane, and in which it is to be noted that the original pair of grooves are merged at a at the top and bottom in order that the template or protuberance 28, integral with the cylindrical body (Figure 4) may travel in the groove from one end of the tubing section 4 to the other and will be enabled to reverse its direction of travel at each point a. The protuberance 28 is the sole supporting means for the working barrel 24 and suspends this member from the grooved section 4.

In the bottom of the working barrel 24, a ball valve 29 is provided and on the lower extremity of the working barrel, a strainer 30 may be provided, if desired.

A similar valve 3| is mounted in the bottom of the grooved tubing section 4 and immediately below the valve 3|, piston type rings 32 are provided on the section 4 to engage the interior surface of the wall of the working barrel 24.

It is pointed out that while there is shown a concentric space between the working barrel and the tubing section 4, it is intended that these elements be in contact one with the other but allowing easy sliding movement of the Working barrel without too great friction.

In operation, the tubing string 3, carrying the housing |5 and grooved section 4 is run into the casing much in the same manner as is usually done. When power is applied to the pulley |2, worm Il! will rotate gear 5 to revolve the tubing string 3. This will impart rotation to the internal gear I8 and which, in turn, will revolve the gear 2| to rotate the tubing section 4. Obviously, rotation of section 4 will cause the protuberance 28 to move up or down, depending upon the angle of the groove in which it is disposed and in moving down, the working barrel 24 is lowered so that it will be submerged in the liquid 3| in the bottom of the well. Fluid will enter the working barrel by lifting ball 29 and when the protuberance 28 has reached the lower limit of the groove 21 at a, its direction of travel will be reversed and the working barrel 24 will begin to ascend, carrying with it the iluid. As the working barrel continues to rise, the fluid therein will lift the ball 3| in the bottom of the section 4, thereby entrapping the same above the valve. As the operation continues, the fluid load will be assumed by the tubing valve 32,

shown in Figure 1 at the lower end of the tubing string 3.

It is apparent from the foregoing that any speed differential desired between the tubing and working barrel may be eected by changing the gears |8 and 2| or substituting for the tubing section 4, other sections whose grooves have greater or lesser pitch.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 5 to 9 inclusive, substantially the same principle is carried out and the structure varies from that just described chiefly in that the transmission gearing in the well is omitted. In

4 place of the gearing there is provided a circular plate 33, welded or otherwise suitably secured vto the upper end of a tubular guide 34. lTo this plate is pivoted grips 35, which, under pressure of springs 36 are urged against the walls of casing 31 to hold the tubular guide against rotation. The plate 33 and consequently the tubular guide is supported upon ball bearings 38, borne by a thick walled collar 39. This collar is threaded to receive the swaged end 40 of a tubular member 4|, comparable to the tubing section 4 in the rst described form of the invention.

The member 4| is provided with a helical endless groove 42 in which travels the protuberance 43, mounted in the upper end of the working barrel 44. This working barrel is guided and held against rotation in the tubular guide 34 by channel members 45 carried by the wall of the working barrel 44 and which embrace vertical ribs 46 mounted interiorly of the tubular guide 34.

A valve 41 is provided in the bottom of the working barrel 44 and a similar but smaller valve 48 is carried in the bottom of the tubular section 4|.

The tubing string 49` from which the pumping elements described are suspended may be rotated by a mechanism similar to that earlier described and which consists ofa gear 50 driven by a worm 5|, which, in turn, is driven by a V- type belt pulley 52. A square block 53 is accommodated by a square recess in thegear 50 and a square hole in the block receives the conforming end of the tubing string 49.

The operation of this form of the invention being substantially the same as that previously described, further description is deemed unnecessary. When the fluid, elevated by the working barrel reaches' the top of the tubing string, it emerges into the driving head 54 and enters a discharge line 55 for transfer to storage.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be constructed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit; and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A well pump including in combination with a tubing string in a well, surface .means for rotating said tubing string, a tubular lbody suspended below said tubing string for common rotation therewith and having a continuous, double helix groove in its exterior surface, a working barrel surrounding said tubular body and held against rotation, having a member disposed in saidv groove-to travel therein when said tubing string is rotated, whereby to effect vertical reciprocationof said working barrel, and valve means in said working barrel and said tubing string for controlling fluid for upward passage through said tubing string.

2. A well pump including in combination with a tubing string in a well, surface means for rotatng said tubing string, a Working barrel, a multiple return grooved tubular member suspended by said tubing string and rotatable therewith in sa`id working barrel, a tracer carried by said Working barrel and disposed in said groove to effect extended rectilinear movement of said working barrel when said tubing string is rotated, and valve means carried by said working barrel and tubing string to elevate fluid from said well through the movements of said working barrel.

3. AA well pump including a tubing string .and means to rotate said tubing in a well, a multiple return grooved tubular member below and rotated by said tubing, a valve therein, a working barrel concentrically embracing said tubular member, a tubular guide concentrically embracing said working barrel and arranged to hold the same against rotation, tracer means carried by said working barrel arranged to travel in the groove of said tubular member to cause said working barrel to move rectilinearly in continuous motion when said tubing is rotated, to elevate fluid from said well.

4. A well pumpincluding a tubing string, surface means for rotating said tubing string, a

speed reduction gearing suspended by said tubing in said well, a multiple return grooved tubular member suspended from said gearing and rotated thereby through the medium of said tubing, valves in said tubing, a working barrel surrounding said tubular member, a tracer carried by said working barrel arranged to travel in the groove of said tubular member and capable of reversal at either end of said tubular member for reciprocation of said Working barrel, and valve means in said working barrel to effect transfer of well Iiuid above the valves in said tubing string.

5. A well pump including a tubing string and means for rotating the same in a well, Valves in said tubing string, a working barrel below and suspended by said tubing string and held against other than extended rectilinear motion and return, a valve in the lower end thereof, an elongated hollow body suspended in said working barrel by and rotated through the medium of said tubing string, said body having multiple return grooves in its exterior surface, a valve therein, and means carried by said working barrel and disposed in said grooves to effect extended rectilinear motion of said working barrel when said tubing stringis rotated, to elevate fluid from said well through said valves.

DEE E. HUMPI-IREY. 

